Racing Roundup

By Brad Vores

As the 2012 racing is now in the books, let’s take a look at who won track championships around the midstate this season.

Starting off in the 410 Sprint car division, Greg Hodnett captured his second career Williams Grove Speedway track title and first-ever for car owner John Trone. The Grove title pays the most of any local track title with $20,000 going to the team for the feat. Hodnett was also the overall Speedway Motors Central PA 410 Sprint champion for a fourth-straight year.

Danny Dietrich capped off a career season with his first-ever Lincoln Speedway track title and first for car owner Gary Kauffman. The young driver led all drivers with wins at the track, which included wins over both the World of Outlaws and All- Star Circuit of Champions. Dietrich also finished runnerup at Williams Grove.

The third and final local 410 point title went to Chad Layton for his second career Port Royal Speedway title in a year that saw him win three races at the track.

Donny Schatz was the 2012 World of Outlaws Sprint champion, while Tim Shaffer won the overall All Star title but Daryn Pittman won the East Region portion of the All-Star championship.

Sticking with Sprint cars, in the 358 Sprint car ranks, it was a season dominated by Pat Cannon, who captured the Williams Grove and Selinsgrove Speedway track championships and also won the overall Central PA 358 Sprint Series title that paid $6,000.

Tim Wagaman wasn’t a big winner in the 358 Sprint ranks but his consistency gave him track titles at Lincoln and Trail-Way speedways for 2012. Wagaman won twice at TW but didn’t win at all in his run to the Lincoln championship.

Switching gears to the Late Model division, Nick Dickson recorded a career first championship at Hagerstown Speedway thanks to a fast start in the beginning of the season.

Tim Wilson was a first time Port Royal Speedway late model champion while Jeff Rine dominated again at Selinsgrove Speedway for an eighth career track title. Jack Pencil raced to another Bedford Speedway late model title as well in 2012.

Darrell Lanigan was the best this year on the WoO Late Model tour, breaking all kids of records en route to his second career series title.

Finally in the 358 late model ranks, Gene Knaub once again was the king of the division at Williams Grove Speedway to capture another title while Wayne Walls, Jr. came out on top of the Limited Late Model ranks at Hagerstown Speedway. Mike Altobelli Jr. was the season champion at Bedford Speedway while Carl Billet continued his track championship domination with another at Susquehanna Speedway Park.

Frankie Herr was the 2012 Super Sportsman champion while Robbie Stillwaggon won a career first URC Sprint Series title this year.

As we close for another week, we end with saying we are still and always will be Penn State proud. What a performance by the 2012 team against Wisconsin and what a way to send off this special group of players led by a sensational senior class that will forever be remembered as the best ever to wear blue and white! Until next time, e-mail gets me at Bvores@comcast.net.